I would guess that the frustration for all of us is that we make a great product – or think so. However, to make this hobby/business interesting we need to sell some of it. That will be the main subject of my rant today WHERE – HOE = WHAT PLACES.

I have found two “craft” malls in North Dallas and tried them both. The first one closed and the second was far too expensive. My search for additional locations has proven fruitless.

I have a FaceBook specifically for my ScrollSaw work and most all of my friends just love my work – but NO SALES.

I have thought and thought and thought about ETSY but have not jumped in that direction – YET. Lately I see some of the same items I make at HALF the price I would charge. Now I consider $6 to $8 per hour a reasonable return for doing my work. I just do not see accepting less than that.

I am signed up for three craft shows in the fall. I know I will make sales but a simple 4th quarter bump does not seem to make things balance for a years worth of work.

I do not depend on sales from my scrollsaw work for income or any necessity. It is just a hobby but I would like to see a higher return for the work it takes. I love doing it and will continue but just looking for ideas.

Huff posted an excellent series of marketing and selling you woodworking items and I did read every word several times. I know he states that you should use every avenue and any approach possible to get you name and product out in front of people. I understand marketing and sales very well still just looking to make the road a little easier.

1 comment so far

One problem with selling to the public is that you have to make products they want and not what you want. This can be difficult for a hobby woodworker who’s choice of projects is usually more motivated by factors such as aesthetic quality, the degree of difficulty to make and quality factors than salability. I just don’t see that hobby work and sales are very compatible. I realize that is not always true, but I suspect it is in most cases. The only way I can see for a hobby woodworker to sell a lot of his product is to stick with one or two great products that he can learn to make very efficiently while maintaining the quality. This normally requires aids like jigs or in your case stack cutting to make the work go fast and to maintain a high quality which can be sold at the right price point. This is just my take on craft sales. I hope you will be able to separate the wheat from the chaff find something helpful here.